Looking Back & Looking Ahead

Well it is that time of year again. 2011 is winding down and 2012 is almost here. Naturally, I guess, you see a lot of “The Year In Review”-type articles, as well as “What To Expect In The New Year”-type articles. (Have you started thing about your “resolutions” yet?)

I don’t feel much need to review the year: it felt basically the same as the year before (although tablet PC’s were hyped to death.. [did you see the word “Android” enough?]), and my ‘prediction’ for 2012 is it will be much the same as this year was.

I think it a safe bet: the number of Americans who will have their identity stolen will remain measured by the 10’s of thousands: credit card fraud will continue to plague the financial and insurance industries. And thousands and thousands of you will fall for a “rogue antivirus” pop-open attack… even though the warnings have been published (weekly) since 2007, and there is now a National Cyber Crime Awareness month.

The same small percentage will actually read the owner’s manual.
Life will get busier and more complex.

~     ~     ~

I will keep my “resolutions” for this coming year personal, and I will wish you much success in yours. I thank you for visiting here this 2011, and I hope to see you again in 2012. I offer you my sincere wishes for a healthy and prosperous new year!

The more things change the more they stay the same department: Got this today…

Mrs Rosalind Deters
Email:[deleted]
Hello Dear,
My name is Rosalind Deters,i am a dying woman who has decided to donate
What i have to you.
I am 59 years old,was diagnosed of cancer about 2 years ago immediately after
The death of my husband,who has left me everything he worked for.
I have been touched by God to donate from what i have inherited from my late
Husband to you for the good work of God,rather than to allow my relatives to
Use my husbands hard earned funds ungodly…

Today’s quote: “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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New Computer? Decrapify it! (A How To)

If you are one of those lucky people and you now have a shiny new Laptop or Desktop computer, congratulations! There are several things one needs to do with a brand-new computer: the first will be to visit Windows Update, and get the machine ‘patched’ with the latest security Updates. (Click the Start button, click All Programs, and then click Windows Update.)

Then of course, you will spend some time “personalizing” the system — say, giving it your favorite “wallpaper” (or Theme), and installing your favorite programs. And then you want to de-crap-ify your machine.

What I mean by that, is remove (aka “uninstall”) the “trial” programs, and Polar Penguins Bowling games, and “Connect to AOL” crud that the computer manufacturers insist on loading onto the units they sell. This software “free trial” stuff can cause that new machine to slow to a crawl, and sooner or later, fill your screen with annoying pop-ups! (trial is over, buy now!)

Every year I tell you guys that the tool for that is the wonderful PCDecrapifier utility. This little tool gives you a simple and easy way to sweep away all that junk in one action, which saves you from the normal, one-at-a-time, method of Control Panel > Programs and features > Uninstall a program.

Click on image to read PC Decrapifier's "How It Works"

This year, I am also going to tell you that instead of re-inventing the wheel, I will refer you to an illustrated How To on a rival site (How To Clean Up your New Computer With PC Decrapifier). Which means even those of you with not a lot of confidence in your abilities can (read+follow) use this tool.
And I highly recommend you do.

And, if you have simply never gotten around to cleaning that trialware off of your not-so-new machine, well.. it’s not to late.

Today’s (other) reading reco: 2011: A year in review

“The year 2011 saw Android and Apple battling for mobile domination, with patents rivaling technology as the weapon of choice. We watched HP’s soap opera, RIM’s decline, and Netflix’s crash. We said goodbye to Steve Jobs. And the answer to most every question continued to be “the Cloud.” Read more..

Today’s quote: “The more sympathy you give, the less you need.” ~ Malcolm S. Forbes

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Dear Reader,

I hope your travels will be safe ones. I hope you can go forth and spread joy and ease pain, and enjoy the blessings of life during this special time of year. We here at Tech–for Everyone Headquarters (that is to say, me, myself, and I) wish you the very best of Holidays.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Yes, yes, yes. I will get back to the tech. But for now, be merry! Bake a batch of cookies (and then eat ’em all).

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” ~ James Matthew Barrie

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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It Is The Season (For “A Virus Has Been Detected!”)

We are now in prime cyber crime season, and the experts all predict this year will be the worst yet. From the calls coming into my business, I suspect the prediction is a good one.

Right now, the criminals are “poisoning” websites like crazy (it is prime shopping and travel season, so those sites are getting hardest hit {I am inferring from my client’s recent calls}.) and planting their fake A Virus Has Been Detected! pop-opens (aka “rogue antivirus“).

I urge you to read Your Computer Is Lying To You… The Epidemic Of Rogues if you haven’t already, and please – send the link to your less-savvy friends and loved ones.

Also worthy of your, and your friends’ and family’s attention – here are one security company’s Top 12 scams to be on the lookout for this holiday season, and some tips for protecting yourself. There are changes from last year’s list, so please take a look. The 12 (Cyber) Scams Of Christmas – 2011 Version

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Simple (aka “Tree 4”)

Sometimes, simple is nice too..

Click on image to see more by this artist

“Christmas Ornament on Fir Tree” by Stephend9, courtesy of Flickr Commons.

Today’s quote: “To err on the side of kindness is seldom an error.” ~ Liz Armbruster

Tree Three (and more)

Some “bits and piece” for you today..

First up: looking for images to post, I stumbled across a photo that transported me back in time to long ago (when dinosaurs roamed and I was but  knee-high to a grasshopper) which I think a few of you might like..

Click on image to see more by this artist

For those of you still shopping… there’s a relatively new “comparison” website you may not have heard of yet.

Findthebest.com, a unique comparison engine, allows consumers to make quick and informed decisions on all sorts of topics.

Findthebest.com allows you to:
•       Start with a comprehensive list of models and narrow down by brand, technical specifications, operating systems, network, manufacturer, price, and more
•       Compare with simple and easy to use side-by-side interface
•       Obtain unbiased ratings and detailed product specs

This site impressed me because they link to the manufacturer (or source) and any prices listed are MSRP — this isn’t about finding the best online price but about making informed choices.. or simply “finding out more”.
(Tech devices are  just one small ‘area’ of the site.) Take a look at Findthebest.com.

Like free softwareware?

• A FREE Full-Fledged Disc Burning Tool

I do not know about you, but I like simple; especially when it comes to disc burning software. In my book, the disc burning software package that meets the criteria for being simple, is Burnaware Home. I have often found that the majority of software that is designed to burn discs is overladen with bells […] Read more..

• BDlot Video Converter Giveaway

(also) Play game to win nice gifts like free DVD backup software and iTouch.

Hope Monday is treating you well.

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Sunday Beauty #71

Yesterday’s photo featured a rather small Christmas tree, so for today’s, I thought I would ‘go big’..

“A giant Christmas tree stands in the middle of the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris.” Photo by Jacques Brinon/Associated Press, via Yahoo! News.

Enjoy your weekend, everybody!